Nineteen House Republicans have written to New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill demanding an explanation for a software error that resulted in approximately 6,600 noncitizens being registered to vote and about 400 ballots being cast.
The lawmakers, in a letter released Friday, expressed concern that the incident points to broader vulnerabilities in election security and questioned whether the error was a mere glitch or a deliberate act. The group, including Reps. Jefferson Van Drew and Chris Smith of New Jersey, also raised concerns about the state's voter roll maintenance and whether the administration would support voter identification legislation.
The issue came to light earlier in the week when Governor Sherrill announced the software problem within New Jersey's Motor Vehicle System. According to Sherrill, between June 2023 and June 2024, the system registered individuals who indicated they were not U.S. citizens when applying for driver's licenses or identification cards. These individuals reportedly answered "no" to a question about U.S. citizenship on a keypad, yet the system proceeded with voter registration.
"This was not a minor clerical discrepancy," the Republican lawmakers stated in their letter. "It was a catastrophic breakdown of the most basic safeguard in our election system: ensuring that only eligible American citizens are registered and permitted to vote."
The Republicans requested that the state provide details on its routine voter roll maintenance testing, identify the specific counties where the improper ballots were cast, and confirm the administration's stance on voter-ID legislation. The lawmakers have requested a response by August 21, 2026.
Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in national elections. Republicans have long voiced concerns about the integrity of voter registration systems and the potential for noncitizens to be registered and vote.